WarriorOfMetal Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 I'm in the design stages of a custom 7-string guitar that I plan to call the Dragonrider. I'm doing this as my final project for my "professional music" major here at Berklee (for that major, your final project can be just about anything, as long as it's somehow music-related, and my interest in wanting to get into lutherie inspired me to give this a shot....and no, there are no lutherie courses at Berklee, currently). Anyway, it's going to have elements of a few guitars I currently own, combined to make something that will (hopefully) turn out really nicely. I'm planning to have doug build the neck for me once I've got the money for it, and then I'll make the body from a blank, and do all the finishing, assembly, and setup myself (well, with some help). Also, I'll likely be getting a custom pickguard from Terrapin Guitars. Enough rambling, on with the specs: Neck: 7-string 25.5" scale 24 frets Ibanez AANJ-style bolt-on joint Maple neck Ebony board Inlays: none Binding: white Frets: stainless steel custom dragon's head shaped headstock headstock finish: white Body: Alder (probably) superstrat shape with B.C. Rich Ignitor-inspired modifications rear-routed control/battery cavity pickguard for cosmetic purposes finish: white Original Floyd Rose 7 or Ibanez Lo-Pro Edge 7 double-locking recessed vibrato flush-mounted output jack Electronics/other: Pickups: EMG 707 (neck) and 81-7 (bridge) Controls: volume knob + 5-way blade switch (wired for use as a 3-way...I do this for the smoother feel when switching quickly from one end of the travel to the other) Hardware color: black bridge with chrome saddles, black locking nut with chrome locking pads I'm probably forgetting a couple things, but those are the main important parts. I've got some sketches of the body and headstock shapes on paper and posterboard....I'll try to borrow a digital camera and see if I can get some decent pics of them to post for thoughts tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitefly SA Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 I didn't know they made floyd rose original 7 string bridges. Where do you get them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidnightLamp Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 http://www.floydrose.com/7string.html They make them...where to get them, or who would even think of stocking them is another thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 thanks to some people over at sevenstring.org i found out that they have them at www.guitarpartsdepot.com btw, pics tonight aren't looking too promising Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwhiteandthemaple Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Personally I like the Edges Edge LoPro 7 Found Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Personally I like the Edges Edge LoPro 7 Found Here yeah i'm well aware of that site.....but i'm probably gonna buy a used RG7620, use the parts i need, and then re-sell what i don't....although i may have to use ibanezrules to get the chrome saddles... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 (edited) http://www.floydrose.com/7string.html They make them...where to get them, or who would even think of stocking them is another thing. I was just about to post that, as well as guitarpartsdepot after reading Nitefly's comment. Looking forward to pictures, 7-string's are awesome! Edited August 5, 2006 by Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 i threw some pics of my sketches up and a backstory on a website here: http://prod.campuscruiser.com/cruiser/berk...ragonrider.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inisheer Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 That sketch of the body looks pretty cool, I like the shape. But I think that the white body with black pickguard doesn't look very "metal". Just my opinion of course, I still think it looks cool. Good luck to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 That sketch of the body looks pretty cool, I like the shape. But I think that the white body with black pickguard doesn't look very "metal". Just my opinion of course, I still think it looks cool. Good luck to you. the guitar the color combination is based on: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 i threw some pics of my sketches up and a backstory on a website here: http://prod.campuscruiser.com/cruiser/berk...ragonrider.html There's only one hand gesture I can give to people who actually PROFESS that they play power metal... \m/ >_< \m/ Had ya goin' didn't I? Good luck on the build, body looks awesome, headstock is a bit too 'busy' for my tastes, but all the more power to ya. In the name of Holy Thunderforce, -Xanthus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2006 i threw some pics of my sketches up and a backstory on a website here: http://prod.campuscruiser.com/cruiser/berk...ragonrider.html There's only one hand gesture I can give to people who actually PROFESS that they play power metal... \m/ >_< \m/ Had ya goin' didn't I? Good luck on the build, body looks awesome, headstock is a bit too 'busy' for my tastes, but all the more power to ya. In the name of Holy Thunderforce, -Xanthus haha thanx man the headstock i think will make some more sense when i get a better sketch of it....the one i have right now is fairly rough. i've also done a little more work with the body design and the control layout, i should have pics of those on the page in a couple days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted August 11, 2006 Report Share Posted August 11, 2006 the headstock i think will make some more sense when i get a better sketch of it....the one i have right now is fairly rough. i've also done a little more work with the body design and the control layout, i should have pics of those on the page in a couple days. Sweet, looking forward to it. I actually took another look back at the headstock and it's starting to make sense. It's a dragon's jaw, more or less, correct? Reminds me of the sketches in some of my D&D books (No, I'm not a geek...?) That'd work on the body, I think, to keep with the overall theme. One or two things: If you're keeping with the black-white scheme as well as the dragon theme, you could paint the headstock half-black and half-white with the design you had, to further define the dragon-jaw shape. Also, maybe if you moved the upper horn, or both horns, out a bit more, I think it'd make them look more wing-like. My suggestion, is all, but looking forward to your refined designs. Keep 'em comin' -Xanthus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 the headstock i think will make some more sense when i get a better sketch of it....the one i have right now is fairly rough. i've also done a little more work with the body design and the control layout, i should have pics of those on the page in a couple days. Sweet, looking forward to it. I actually took another look back at the headstock and it's starting to make sense. It's a dragon's jaw, more or less, correct? Reminds me of the sketches in some of my D&D books (No, I'm not a geek...?) That'd work on the body, I think, to keep with the overall theme. One or two things: If you're keeping with the black-white scheme as well as the dragon theme, you could paint the headstock half-black and half-white with the design you had, to further define the dragon-jaw shape. Also, maybe if you moved the upper horn, or both horns, out a bit more, I think it'd make them look more wing-like. My suggestion, is all, but looking forward to your refined designs. Keep 'em comin' -Xanthus i don't think i'm gonna do the black/white headstock....i think the white/natural would look a little better....not 100% sure though. btw, i just noticed you're in boston...maybe you'll get to see this thing in person at some point \m/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthus Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 And you, mine. I swear, I'm going to upload my pics to a photo host and start a thread... ...One of these days Yeah, I threw up Boston as a general marker for everyone. Don't want to get too specific, over the internet, ya know? It's fulla crazies! Yeah, I like to refer to myself as residing in the Greater Boston Area It's all the same for someone with a car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 (edited) i made a colorized mockup of the body in photoshop....unfortunately, i'm not quite skilled enough with photoshop to make the bridge saddles chrome like they're supposed to be, but here it is anyway: click here to see pic Edited August 19, 2006 by WarriorOfMetal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doeringer Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 I like, it is different enough to catch an eye but not too pointy or bizzar. You might want to review the picture posting rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidwestGitarz Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 Warrior, since you have the whole Dragon theme going on this project, then why not go the whole way with the paintjob? I agree with Xanthus, I'm not sure about the paintjob, I do really like the idea of those curves built into the body though. May I suggest finding someone who can do airbrushing and have them do something like scales, or something else to that effect? Just throwing it out to ya. Thanks for lettin me jabber. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 Warrior, since you have the whole Dragon theme going on this project, then why not go the whole way with the paintjob? I agree with Xanthus, I'm not sure about the paintjob, I do really like the idea of those curves built into the body though. May I suggest finding someone who can do airbrushing and have them do something like scales, or something else to that effect? Just throwing it out to ya. Thanks for lettin me jabber. Jeff the idea for the color scheme came before the idea for the name. eventually i'll make another guitar with the same body and headstock that'll probably be done with a green burst finish, but that's not the idea right now. this color scheme has always made me think "power metal" and i was trying to come up with a name that evokes that as well, and i've got a huge thing for dragons.... Doeringer, i looked for the pic posting rules a couple weeks ago and couldn't find anything at all....where would they be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 That design looks an awful lot like that discontinued 80s Fender ... I can't remember the name. Anybody? Doeringer, i looked for the pic posting rules a couple weeks ago and couldn't find anything at all....where would they be? Forum Rules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeiscosRock Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 It looks like a Fender Performer (I believe that's the name your looking for) http://pointyguitars.com/gallery/images/co...nperformer1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 yeah.....it does have a bit of the Performer vibe to it, but less of a "moving" shape. the horns were actually more inspired by the B.C. Rich Ignitor, and the rest of it is a combination of my Charvel CX390 and Ibanez RG's bodies, and i didn't realize the Performer similarities until a friend of mine pointed it out when i showed him the sketches. i'd seen the Performer before, but it'd been a while, so i definitely wasn't thinking of that when i made it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitefly SA Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 I saw your design and I thought it needed a couple things, First off I don't think that the top horn protrudes enough seconly, I dont think it looks mean enough, especially for a guitar named "Dragonrider" and also this goes along with number one, I think you will have balance issues as a lot of 7 strings do. Use parts of my version or none of it, just a friendly suggestion, I'm really looking forward to seeing this one come together, good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorOfMetal Posted August 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 (edited) I saw your design and I thought it needed a couple things, First off I don't think that the top horn protrudes enough seconly, I dont think it looks mean enough, especially for a guitar named "Dragonrider" and also this goes along with number one, I think you will have balance issues as a lot of 7 strings do. Use parts of my version or none of it, just a friendly suggestion, I'm really looking forward to seeing this one come together, good luck. the upper horn is exactly as long as an Ibanez RG7.....although you may be right about balance issues, given that the headstock is longer.....i may try that... btw you seem to have completely missed my headstock design haha (either that or ignored it ) Edited August 20, 2006 by WarriorOfMetal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitefly SA Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 (edited) I read the dragon I dea, I just slapped a headstock on there, my main thing was making the body look a little...shall I say, meaner. Edit: I have a 7 string RG and that has balance problems. so even if you added an inch or two to the horn that would help with the balance. Edited August 20, 2006 by Nitefly SA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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